The editorial writers argued the RNC’s report, titled the “Growth and Opportunity Project,” failed to identify “the source of the GOP’s recent electoral woes” and didn’t offer a viable change of course. The editorial was particularly critical on specific policy proposals, namely the RNC’s approach to the issue of immigration reform.

Where the report does get into policy — most notably on the issue of immigration reform — its analysis is shallow and its recommendations opportunistic. Much is pinned on the empirically dubious claim that George W. Bush won 44 percent of the Hispanic vote in 2004, and a nexus is drawn between this factoid and the former president’s conciliatory rhetoric on immigration. But nowhere does the document offer a substantive argument in favor of the kind of comprehensive immigration reform on offer in Washington, or even come close to demonstrating that support for such a program would accrue Republicans more votes than it lost them, considering that Hispanics are often ideologically liberal for reasons beyond immigration.